A video on a Chinese video platform that insultingly synthesized Emperor Hirohito (Showa) (1926–1989) is spreading. The Japanese government has protested against this.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 27th, videos showing Emperor Hirohito crawling on all fours like a dog and barking have recently been uploaded on Chinese video sharing platforms such as Douyin (TikTok) and Xiaohongshu. These videos are presumed to be generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
As of the evening of the previous day, some of the problematic videos have been deleted, but videos that are still viewable remain.
Hayashi Yoshimasa, the spokesperson for the Japanese government, said at a press conference that day, "We are aware of the videos and deem them inappropriate," and demanded that China take prompt and appropriate measures through diplomatic channels, considering the negative impact on Japan-China relations.
In response, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Guao Jiakun noted at a regular briefing that they are "investigating the relevant situation."
Nikkei reported that the Chinese government controls social media, indicating that the authorities seem to have tolerated the problematic videos.
During Hirohito's reign, Japan initiated the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War, leading to a very negative perception of him in China.
The Chinese government will hold a parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Anti-Japanese War and the World Anti-Fascist War (World War II) in Beijing on the 3rd of next month. Around this time, it is expected that anti-Japanese sentiments will rise in China, with films like '731,' which deals with the infamous Unit 731 (Japanese Kwantung Army Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department) that conducted biological experiments during the Second Sino-Japanese War, being released.
The Japanese government requested that countries refrain from attending the victory day event, stating it has a strong anti-Japanese tint. Spokesperson Guao Jiakun protested to Japan about this and demanded clarification, urging Japan to have a correct understanding of history and to respect the feelings of the peoples of the war-affected countries.